Is the Amazon Echo Plus Poised to Replace Your Smart Home Automation System?

What Does the Newest Version of the Voice Control Device Have to Offer?

By now, you probably know about the Amazon Echo, the online retailer’s “smart” voice control device. With it, you can control many of the technology components around your house, just by saying a command. You could even use it with your smart home automation system – just connect it with a platform and start commanding the lights, shades, AV and other devices in your home. But now Amazon is making a play for smart home dominance with the release of the Echo Plus. They claim it will be the only smart home hub you need. So will the Echo Plus really replace your smart home system? Keep reading for the answer.

The Echo Plus defines itself from previous versions of the Echo by combining the capabilities of a smart home hub with its voice control hardware. The hub acts like a waypoint for all of your smart devices. In other words, it helps translate the language that your smart lighting speaks so it can work with your smart audio video gear. So does the Echo Plus pose a real threat to your current smart home system?

The short answer is no.

First of all, the Echo Plus doesn’t have all of the capabilities of a full-service smart home hub. Unlike most major manufacturers, Amazon’s device only supports Zigbee standards. Typically, smart home hubs will also feature Z-Wave compatibility. So the Echo Plus can only support half of the devices in your smart system. And while it offers direct compatibility with many popular, lower-end smart home products, its control over those devices remains limited. If you try to set up a smart home automation system using just the Echo Plus, you’ll find yourself with the same struggles as other DIY smart home solutions: limited functionality and a more complicated user experience.

Is the Echo Worth the Investment?

Let’s face it: voice control is cool. It’s a fun way to interact with your smart devices. And the best part? It can integrate with your existing home control system. The bottom line is that you don’t need to upgrade with an Echo Plus if you’ve already got a smart system installed. And if you are just now considering the benefits of a smart home system, you can probably do better than the Echo Plus. What more is there to know about voice control in your smart home automation system? Plenty! If you want to learn more, click here.